Tagged: Playoffs
10/29 MLB Tonight – World Series Parallel
In 1975 I watched the entire T.V. broadcast of Game 2 of the World Series, and it’s striking to see the parallels in the ways games are covered then and today.
For those who don’t remember that was the classic between the Red Sox and the Reds, and in Game 2 there was a rain delay.
NBC did a great job with that broadcast because of the access they provided, especially during that rain delay.
During that delay, you had Joe Garagiola, who was dressed in a Sherlock Holmes outfit, talking to Ned Martin, the play-by-play man for the Red Sox.
This was before the Internet and MLB TV, when you couldn’t just watch any game from a Desert Island.
There was nothing fancy about it, just a great conversation where the two discussed some of the things a fan watching the Red Sox for the first time would be interested in.
You also had some inside access that today would almost be impossible. During the rain delay, instead of texting or tweeting, the players sat down for interviews. In a 2-1 game in the 7th, there was Johnny Bench and Sparky Anderson in the dugout casually talking to Marty Brennaman with the tension of the game still hanging in the air.
With rain constantly in the forecast this postseason, don’t look for Charlie Manuel or Derek Jeter to sit and chat in the dugout with me to give you some honest feedback on the pulse of the game.
Those were the good old days of broadcasting, where you got a real sense of what was going on at the game and inside the game, straight from the players themselves.
But the similarities are in the way T.V. networks use every asset they have to their potential.
In this respect, Fox has done such a great job with the playoffs. Today, it’s much tougher to get that kind of access, but they have used every resource under the sun to bring the viewer as close to the game as possible. They use replays and super slo-mo shots at just the right moment; the technology enhances the game instead of taking away from it. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver are also terrific together in the booth.
Looking at these two broadcasts side to side, you can really how far we’ve come as an industry of broadcasting baseball. Our technology and skill has exploded, but the access back then was golden during such an innocent time.
Another parallel that ties that ’75 series to our current fall classic is the inordinate celebrity shots. Back then you had the same type of star power sitting in the front row, inspiring the players on the field, just like Kate Hudson is doing for A-Rod and the Yankees.
There is no doubt in my mind that Henry Kissinger is an early version of Kate Hudson. Henry’s a viable partner to co-star in romantic comedies, with Matthew McConaughey and Owen Wilson. Had the planets been aligned a tiny bit differently, he could have been a hit teamed up with Dean Martin or Jerry Lewis in classic romantic comedies.
Tune in to MLB Tonight before Game 3. I’ll go into a deeper analysis on this idea.
– Matt Vasgersian
10/28 MLB Tonight – Reviewing Instant Replay
This has been on my mind all postseason, and now it’s time to let it out. There is a desperate need for Instant Replay in baseball.
Look at that play in the Bottom 5th with Jimmy Rollins. He caught Cano’s jam shot, and got the double play by doubling off Matsui who didn’t know what hit him. It was a great intelligent play by Rollins that could have been erased by bad umpiring.
Just in this postseason alone, there have been a ton of plays where the umpires have made egregious errors. At home we can see them, all the fans at the game can see them, the players even turn to look at the replays on the Jumbotrons; everyone on the planet but these umpires sees the play and knows what the call should be.
In the ALCS you had two Yankees clearly tagged out at 3rd, Posada and Cano, who was on some other planet, but the umpire missed it. Then two plays with Swisher, the pick off at 2nd and the tag up at 3rd, more missed calls. All it took was a pair of eyes watching the right spot at the right time, which is the essence of umpiring.
We need Instant Replay.
Having one more umpire up in a booth, in front of a T.V. watching the game is the solution. Every MLB game is televised, so it’s just a matter of breaking out of this Stone Age way of thinking that the game isn’t pure unless human error is involved.
Having play go on when there is a clear and obvious error is a stain on the credibility of the umpires, which is a shame. These umpires are great umpires, but their job is extremely tough to do, no matter how many umpires are on the field.
Looking to the other professional sports, the NFL, NBA, NCAA, and NHL all use video replay to get the calls right.
Just using it for the HR calls is a joke, a tease. The number of times they review HR is minuscule compared to the number of calls that are wrong.
This postseason has been defined by missed calls. Do we really need to hear from umpires after the game that all they do is go out there and try to do their best?
I say leave the human element in baseball to the players, and let’s get the calls right. Put an extra umpire in the booth. With an umpire already in the booth, all they will need to do is signal the booth, and a few moments later, the right call will be made.
In the time it takes for the crew of umpires to huddle up, discuss, argue, ponder, and come to a decision, the right call can be made, and the game goes on.
If you want to cut down on delays, limit the number of times a catcher can go to the mound. It seemed like Jose Molina was going out to the mound talking to A.J. Burnett before every pitch in key moments. It was ridiculous.
If the players can have endless time-outs, why can’t the umpires have one?
I can go on and on with more examples, and I know you purists out there have many questions about my theories for improving the game, but hey, we’ve got a game out there in the rain. I’m going to watch the rest of Game 1.
Tune in to our post-game coverage following every World Series game, and don’t forget for two hours leading up to every World Series game is a special edition of MLB Tonight.
-Greg Amsinger
10/23 MLB Tonight – Thursday’s Thriller
Before we move to Game 6, we need to dig deep into the Angels victory last night.
People want a formula that works with regards to keeping your ace in a close game, because last night was a mess.
Aaron Boone said to me, as we were watching Lackey getting pulled, that pitchers usually plead their case with managers on the mound, but yesterday, because of the Fox production staff, you really got to see an extreme closeup of John Lackey just pleading, begging Mike Scioscia not to come to the mound. He was screaming, “Come on Sciosch, This is Mine, This Is Mine,” because he knows that once his skipper makes up his mind, there’s no two ways about it, his decision is made.
I think Joe Magrane said it best, “If you’re going to take out your ace, you’ve got to get better.” Darren Oliver has come up big for the Angels, but he is not better than John Lackey, and that move almost cost them their season. Flipping Teixeira around to the right side was not a big enough reason to take Lackey out of the game. Taking Lackey out was huge, that one move could have ended the Angels season.
But Joe Girardi bailed him out by sending A.J. out for the 7th. OK, I get the rationale; 80 pitches, cruising after a rocky 1st, and pitching with a lead, but is a tiring A.J. really the best option? He needed to showcase right there why the Yankees have been the best team during the regular season, and ride Joba, Hughes, and Rivera into the World Series. Instead, A.J. was sent out there to face finely tuned hitters seeing him for the 3rd time. His stuff was shaky and inconstant all night, and he couldn’t get the job done when he finally got a lead. By keeping A.J. in, Girardi turned the back end of the bullpen into a convoluted mess, and bailed out Mike Scioscia.
But we’re not done yet, because Fuentes almost stepped in and bailed out Girardi. There was some high drama in that 9th inning with Fuentes going up against the meat of the Yankee order, and looking at that inning, luck was in the air at the Big A.
Damon smashed a liner, Tex just missed a moon shot, and then A-Rod got the Barry Bonds treatment. Wildness loads the bases, but Swisher popped up a 3-2 pitch, and we have a Game 6.
At this point we’re not looking at a crisp October night; there is some heavy rain on the way to the Bronx. If a rain-out becomes reality, advantage Angels because of the pitching.
If Saturday doesn’t happen, the way Jered Weaver looked last night I won’t be surprised if he steps in for Game 6. John Lackey is gonna pitch on 3-days rest, and a Game 7 is not what the Yankees want.
There’s so much to talk about, so join us at 6 for MLB Tonight. – Greg Amsinger
10/21 MLB Tonight – The Hot Corner with Hazel Mae
Here’s What’s HOT……The Angels on the HOT Seat.
After 4 games, the ALCS seems to be in the bag for the Yankees, but for me, this situation is eerily similar to the 2004 ALCS.
The Yankees are showing they were not only the best team in the regular season, but by steamrolling through the playoffs, they have flexed their muscle.
Some see the Angels chances for a comeback slim to none.
I was covering the Red Sox in 2004, and saw first hand how a team left for dead fought back against a mighty Yankees team.
Flashback to August 2004. I first hit the air waves across New England on NESN, and got my first taste of Red Sox Nation. Their reputation as a passionate, knowledgeable, and loyal group, when it came to their “Local 9,” was legendary among sports fans.
But I also learned about the skepticism ingrained in every Red Sox fan, young and old.
When the Red Sox dug that 0-3 hole to their most hated rivals in New York, the refrain remained the same that it’s been for the previous 86 years, “here we go again.”
As the new kid in town, this cynicism was new to me. I watched my hometown Blue Jays win back-to-back World Series titles in ’92 and ’93, so an 86-year curse was unfamiliar territory.
I couldn’t relate to the anguish Red Sox fans endured generation upon generation, seeing World Series titles slip away, or rather between their legs.
This was never more evident to me then prior to Game 4. Long time Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy and I were on the field.
Dan looks at me and asks, “So, what do you think?”
I say, “You never know, If Lowe can get the ball to Petey, we’ve got Schilling on the mound for Game 6, then…
Dan chuckles, “You’re obviously not from around here.”
Then the comeback. Cowboy up, the bloody sock, Caveman slam, on and on, till we’re riding through Boston in duck-boats.
I saw Dan soon after. We didn’t exchange words, but he flashed me a smile, and that was enough validation for me.
I got the chance to personally witness the greatest comeback in baseball history
The Angels can cling to a sliver of confidence in the fact that a comeback is not impossible. Down 3-0 or 3-1 to a daunting Yankee team doesn’t spell doom.
What the Angels can do now is take a page from those ’04 Sox, and play wicked haaad!
-Hazel Mae
10/20 MLB Tonight – What I’m Looking For
There are a couple of story lines I’m looking at going into this game 4 of the ALCS.
In the playoffs, it always starts on the hill, and there are a couple of aces going at it tonight. CC Sabathia on three days rest is better than most pitchers on four days rest. My gut tells me it’s not a big deal because of his track record on three days rest, with a horse like CC, but the numbers overwhelmingly suggest that a pitcher on three days rest just doesn’t perform as up to the level of a pitcher on normal rest. There is a tendency to feel good with your ace going, but looking to the numbers reveals a different story.
This game is a huge swing game in the series. A Yankees win could very well catapult them into the World Series. A loss shifts the tide to the Angels advantage. Now they’re looking at an even series with their ace starting at home.
A Yankee loss will also reveal a small weak spot in the Yankees armor, and that is their starting pitching depth. Behind CC, A.J., and Andy, there is not a lot of confidence in the rest of the rotation.
On the flip side, the Angels need Scott Kazmir to keep his pitch count down. If he can pitch them into the 6th or even the 7th, he’ll put the Angels in a good position.
Kazmir has given the Angels a bit of a boost down the stretch, bouncing back from a rough start to the season with the Rays. Working with his former pitching coach Mike Butcher has helped him, and after a so-so outing in the division series, he needs to show his toughness.
Turning to the Angels hitters, we saw how pivotal role players like Kendrick, Aybar, and Mathis can be, but there is no doubt that getting Vladdy hot is crucial.
Vladdy’s home run was a huge knock for him and the Angels. Not only did it change the game, it turned the series around. The HR was the result of a great at-bat. He fought off some tough pitches and put a good swing on a good pitch.
When a player like that gets his confidence back, watch out, it can really get him going on a tear. Even though he’s 0-2 tonight, he had a quality at bat and put good swings on the ball.
Fight on. – Aaron Boone.
10/19 MLB Tonight – Hart of the Matter
ALCS Game 3. We’re into the 8th and we’ve got another game today.
Andy Pettitte has gone out there and just been teaching a lesson about pitching He’s not dominating with the power stuff which seems to always dominate in the playoffs; he’s dominating by showing his mastery of every facet of pitching. He’s using a 4-pitch mix to perfection by locating on both sides of the plate, staying ahead, and changing speeds.
But as the game gets later, getting a good hitting team out 3 times around the order takes near perfection when you don’t have that power stuff.
Mike Scioscia knows this and got Weaver out of there, even though he wanted to stay in. Darren Oliver has kept the Angels in the game with a chance to come back.
In the 6th, 3rd time around, Pettitte faced Guerrero, the one guy he had to get out. He didn’t get the pitch in enough, and now we’ve got a ballgame! – John Hart
10/16 Path To The Pennant – The Left Wing
This is a huge game for the Dodgers who can’t leave home 0-2, going into Philly. Last night Kershaw got off to a great start, but fell apart in the 5th. The Phillies bullpen bent, but didn’t break, and now the Dodgers are in a must win situation.
The Pedro and Padilla match-up is an interesting one. Pedro hasn’t thrown in a while, but gets better the bigger the situation. With the game one win, they are playing with house money, and after a 2 quick innings, Pedro is looking sharp.
With Padilla, you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get. I played with him in Arizona and Philadelphia, so I’ve seen his stuff first hand, and it can be tremendous. It’s just a matter of which Padilla is going to show up today. After 2, he is throwing hard, and looking tough.
Going into this series I thought the Dodgers had an advantage, but after sitting down and really watching the game last night, it’s going to be tough for any team to knock off the Phillies. The Dodgers bullpen is superior, but the Phillies have better starters, and a better group of position players. They are a battle tested team, playing with hunger and confidence.
Looks like the Dodgers have their hands full. – Dan Plesac
10/15 MLB Tonight – NLCS Preview
I love these match-ups that have some meat on the bone. There’s a lot of history woven between these Phillies and Dodgers teams about to duke it out, but it’s not all recent. It goes back to consecutive playoff meetings in the 70’s, when the Dodgers got the better of those Phillies.
But what’s really cool about this NLCS match-up, is all the former Dodgers who are now Phillies and vice-versa. Shane Victorino was original Dodger property, picked up in the Rule 5 Draft by the Phillies. Jayson Werth spent 2 beat up, injury-plagued years in L.A. They gave up on him, and now he has turned into a terrific player for the Phillies.
In our game 2 match-up, Pedro and Padilla are another example of players flip-flopping. It’s easy to drift back to seeing Pedro as the unknown flame-throwing brother of Ramon, and the Padilla Flotilla in full force out in the stands of Veterans Stadium.
Some of the coaches who have switched sides have had huge impacts on their team’s success. Davey Lopes was vital to the Dodgers’ success in the 70’s, leading the league in stolen bases twice. Now, his journey through baseball has taken him to the Phillies, where he has really helped their powerful base-running game evolve. He’s shared the intuition and discipline which defined him as a player with the Phillies, and they have really taken off with it.
On the Dodgers, Larry Bowa is not a warm and fuzzy man, but that attitude has brought him success as a player, manager, and now a coach. Like Davey, he’s the textbook, old-school coach, who knows how to get the most out of his players. His influence is most evident in Matt Kemp, who has always been gifted with exceptional athletic ability but limited baseball knowledge. Bowa’s teachings have rubbed off on him and now we see what kind of baseball skills he’s able to possess.
I hope the series goes 7 games, and I don’t have any predictions for who will come out on top, but I do predict that this series will be more about the role players than the superstars who have dominated in the past.
For the Dodgers, we are seeing a young class of players emerging into top-of the-line players. It’s no longer the “Manny Ramirez Show,” staring a superhuman, dreadlocked, goofball, waving a magic RBI bat. Since the All-Star break, he’s been just a guy, not the superhero character people have made him out to be. That magic has now jumped to Kershaw, Kemp, Ethier, and Broxton, who now carry this Dodgers team. Manny’s not going to be the same factor and the Dodgers are stronger because they have a better supporting cast behind him.
For the Phillies, we know what their stars bring to the table, but guys like Happ, Ruiz, and Werth are going to be the key to the Phillies’ success. They need those supporting players to give them a lift into another World Series. – Matt Vasgersian
10/14 MLB Tonight – Thing’s Things
On the eve of the Championship Series, I’m going to throw my predictions out there.
The Yankees need to keep the top of the Angles order off the bases, or guys like Figgins, Abreu, and Hunter will steal them blind. This is the key to the series because it will affect how the hitters hit, and how the pitchers pitch. Speed will prevail, and I’m taking the Angels in 6 games.
For the Phillies to be successful, Cole Hamels needs to show he’s a semblance of the guy he was last October. Brad Lidge has his confidence back, and that’s going to be huge for him going forward. The mashers on offense are always there, and I’m taking the Phillies, also in 6 games.
For all the players out there still competing, it’s no secret that they’re tired. All the arms out there are basically running on adrenaline, so pitchers really need to make the best pitches they can with what they have left. – Mitch Williams
10/12 MLB Tonight – The Mayor’s Office
Tonight after the Rockies and Phillies game, we’re going to have a lot to talk about.
I want to see how Cliff Lee is going to pitch tonight in his first start in Coors Field. What’s his game plan going to be? Will he have the same movement on his pitches? How will he react to the cold conditions? The key for him tonight might just be the adjustments he makes if his stuff isn’t as sharp in the thin Denver air.
Having played at Coors Field, I can tell you it’s is a great place to hit. The ball comes clearly out of the backdrop and the outfield is a big spacious place to drop a base hit into. But tonight, the cold will be on the hitters’ minds. With Ubaldo throwing in the upper 90’s, and Cliff spotting his fastball, it’s going to be difficult for the hitters to square the ball up. I mean, you take one on the hands and you’ll have a constant reminder to make sure to square the ball up the next time because your thumbs will be ringing the rest of the game.
For the Rockies I’m looking at their line-up adjustments. Can Carlos Gonzalez stay on his hot-hitting tear, and will Dexter Fowler moving up in the line-up make an impact? They have been on base 3 times already; let’s see if they can keep it up. Also let’s see what Seth Smith can add to the offense.
After being in the booth for a lot of Red Sox games this season I must say the sweep really shocked me. I have to question Terry Francona’s decision to intentionally walk Torii Hunter to load the bases in the 9th to bring up Vladimir Guerrero. But after playing for Tito, I know how big he is on match-ups and Torii Hunter hits well against Papelbon.
Even though Vlad has not had success in the playoffs, he is one of the greatest players of our generation. In that situation, Jonathan Papelbon needed strikes and had to come right at Vlad, but that’s just playing right into his hands. You can’t just reach back and throw fastballs to a free swinging, first-ball fastball hitter as dangerous as Vlad. Pap needed to get strike one but that pitch to Vlad ended up being his last of the season.
Thanks for joining me in the Mayor’s Office. – Sean Casey
MLB Network 